Environment & Society

 

Hyrasia One is committed to the highest environmental standards. To systematically identify, evaluate and mitigate the potential environmental and social impacts of the project, Hyrasia One is carrying out an extensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). The assessments for all components of the project are the most comprehensive in the history of the Republic of Kazakhstan. They take into account both national requirements and international ESIA standards.  Out of conviction and together with our renowned and independent partner FICHTNER, we set the best practice standards for environmental and social compatibility. 

By the end of 2025, Hyrasia One’s ESIA Report and the resulting Environmental Social Management Plan (ESMP) will be published. Following strict international standards and in compliance with the latest environmental regulations in Kazakhstan, the ESIA Report will include a summary of all collected data, studies, and assessments  focused on findings and conclusions about the project’s impact on the environment and society in the region. The ESMP will set out mitigation, compensation, offsetting and monitoring measures for all project components and areas to make Hyrasia One a socially and environmentally responsible project.

Biodiversity Surveys

As part of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, biodiversity surveys are carried out in the project areas and the wider area of influence. The surveys will provide an overview of potentially affected terrestrial and marine fauna and flora, including large and small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish as well as IUCN Red List and endemic species. The field studies cover a full meteorological year.

Special surveys will be set on birds and bats as this species are sensitive to wind energy development. The birds and bats mapping will use various methods to record the species, numbers, behaviour, and movements of these animals, such as visual observation, acoustic monitoring, and targeted searching of nests in the breeding season. The data collected will help to identify potential impacts of the project on wildlife and habitats, and to design appropriate measures to avoid, mitgate or compensate them.

Cultural & Historical Surveys

In order to protect cultural and historical sites, Hyrasia One conducts archaeological examinations with the aim to identify and protect any objects of historical and cultural heritage. To avoid negative effects by the project activities to sites, such as settlement ruins, necropolises and burial grounds, sanctuaries and prehistorical buildings, sixth areas of interest will be investigated. Identified objects and their buffer zones will be excluded from project development.

The potential building site for the industrial complex south of Kuryk, with a size of 4,921 hectares, has already been fully investigated. The conclusion of the archaeological survey was approved by the state authorities on 11. July 2023. During the survey, 21 objects of historical and cultural heritage were recognised as archaeological monuments. The main part of the Kuryk site (99%) is free of historical and heritage objects.

Social Studies

Comprehensive Social Impact Studies will examine the potential impact of Hyrasia One on the regional population, society, economy and politics.

Expected developments in infrastructure, labor supply, access to land and resources will be examined and evaluated according to international standards. As a result, the impact on demographics, livelihoods, social structures, health and safety will be assessed.

The social impact assessment will be a forecast of the project's development potential for the Mangystau region and the resulting social development.

Stakeholder Engagement

Hyrasia One is a strong driving force for a green industry cluster in the Mangystau region. The project has the potential to contribute significantly to Kazakhstan's energy transition goals. Hyrasia One will proactively and broadly inform decision-makers, communities, and the public about the results of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment – including their possible rights to compensations. Hyrasia One will hold civil dialogues to consult communities and the public throughout the development of the project.

Over the past months, the team has already carried out visits and initial civil dialogues with communities neighboring the project site.

Together with its ESIA partner Fichtner, Hyrasia One will present the scope and potential impacts of the project in the region during public consultations and public hearings, and offer the opportunity to submit comments and raise concerns. The process shall be open, transparent, accessible, and fair for all stakeholders in accordance with best international practice.

Upcoming public consultations and dialogue events will be announced in a timely manner here on the website.

FICHTNER – Our Partner for ESIA

Fichtner is a leading, independent engineering and consultancy firm active in the sectors of Energy, Renewable Energies & Environment, Water & Infrastructure as well as Consulting & IT.

The Fichtner Group with its subsidiaries and associated companies has a staff strength of more than 2000 worldwide. The Stuttgart based Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG accounts for over 950 of these – comprising mainly engineers, economists and management consultants covering a wide variety of specialist fields.

For public- and private-sector infrastructure service providers we offer comprehensive and interdisciplinary consultancy support, with our key area of activity concerned with central utilities infrastructure. No other enterprise offers our combination of engineering and consultancy, as needed for realizing large-scale projects, with classical management consultancy services.

THE ESIA PHASES

 

Scoping
Baseline Studies
Impact Assessment
Impact Mitigation
ESIA Report
Review and Approval
Implementation and Monitoring

Scoping Phase

Defining the scope and level of detail of the ESIA, including the key issues, alternatives, methods, data sources, and stakeholders to be considered.

Baseline Studies

Collecting and analyzing the existing environmental and social conditions in the project area, as well as the legal and institutional framework.

Impact Assessment

Predicting and evaluating the likely positive and negative impacts of the project and its alternatives, using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Impact Mitigation

Proposing measures to avoid, reduce, or compensate for the adverse impacts and enhance the positive impacts, as well as a monitoring and evaluation plan.

ESIA Report

Preparing and submitting of a comprehensive report that summarizes the findings and recommendations of the ESIA, as well as the public consultation process and the environmental and social management plan.

Review and Approval

Independent review and approving of the ESIA report by the relevant authorities and stakeholders, as well as the disclosure of the results to the public.

Implementation and Monitoring

Implementation of the project and the mitigation measures, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of the environmental and social performance and compliance.